PROJECT: Promote Geographical Indications as a tool for sustainable rural development
MAIN GOAL
Implementation of specific quality policies adapted to local economic, social and cultural realities, in particular through the use of Geographical Indications (GI).
BACKGROUND
Consumers are now demanding more specific quality products that are ethically and sustainably sourced and produced in a guaranteed manner. This trend has been going on in developed countries for a long time and is also growing in emerging countries, especially in urban centers. Origin-linked quality labeling often testifies to the preservation of local resources, the maintenance of employment in rural areas and the improvement of the income of small producers, thus contributing to food security and sustainable development.
Initially, it was a two year project but was renewed four times due to the results achieved, the project aimed to support, on all continents, the implementation of specific quality policies adapted to local economic, social and cultural realities, in particular through the use of Geographical Indications (GI).
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The project has focused on developing and disseminating knowledge and appropriate tools. Based on case studies and regional seminars, practical methodological tools and reference guides have been published in several languages and regularly updated. These include the guide « Linking People, Places and Products" as well as a study on the economic impacts of GIs to determine their contribution to sustainable development. A website has been created and launched: it is now hosted by the FAO website. After raising awareness and building capacity in Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America, the project has more recently focused on the African continent and provided support to the African Union (AU) for the preparation of the Continental Strategy on Geographical Indications in Africa.Several countries have been supported in the definition and implementation of technical assistance projects financed by other funds (FAO Technical Cooperation Program, French Development Agency [AFD], European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD], etc.). FAO regional and country offices have been involved in this component of the project and have thus developed their expertise in the field of origin-labeling.
The project has consistently promoted dialogue at the international level between stakeholders (international organizations, non-governmental formed organizations, experts, research institutes, universities, etc.), notably by supporting the organization of numerous events focused on GI development. Several key partnerships have beenincluding most recently with the AU.
IMPACT
FAO has developed a recognized international expertise on territorial approaches to sustainable development based on GIs that contribute to its Strategic Framework (Strategic Objective 4). Numerous development issues have been taken into account through these approaches, as shown by the various collaborations on a variety of themes (support for small-scale agriculture, consumer protection and flexibility of sanitary standards, collective action and development of cooperation, sustainability and inclusiveness of commodity chains, job creation and maintenance of rural populations, biodiversity conservation, environmental preservation and resilience, agritourism and export strategies). Such GI approaches which have been implemented in many countries can, if they follow the approach recommended by FAO, contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting more inclusive and efficient food and agricultural systems. International awareness, the variety and quality of stakeholders involved, and the partnerships formed will contribute to the sustainability of the project's achievements.
ACTIVITIES
- Publication of ten reference material and tools on GIs, including the updated "Linking people, places and products" practical guide available in seven languages;
- Support to the AU in establishing the Continental Strategy for GI development in Africa and its action plan in collaboration with several partners;
- Formulation of 11 projects (including a regional project in four Asian countries funded with USD 1.8 million from AFD);
- Direct coordination of 27 projects/technical assistance activities on origin-linked quality in all regions of the world;
- Co-organization of 14 international activities with national administrations and stakeholders involved in the promotion of GIs and intellectual property (forums, conferences, seminars, etc.);
- Leveraging in other FAO divisions: nine projects implemented by the Investment Centre in collaboration with the EBRD (US$4.1 million);
- Conducted 26 case studies in all regions of the world in collaboration with renowned institutes or organizations;
- Organized six regional seminars or workshops on all continents with stakeholders involved in GIs development;
- Creation, management and development of a website hosted by FAO. http://www.fao.org/in-action/quality-and-origin-program//.
LESSONS LEARNED
- Geographical indications represent a powerful multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach to contributing to sustainable food systems, which in turn requires significant technical expertise in project coordination.
- Such an approach has enabled the establishment of key partnerships with multiple actors in different sectors and countries : networks of researchers and universities, UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations; these collaborations have contributed to the richness of the results, both in technical assistance and in normative productions.
- With regard to technical assistance, strong mobilization of local actors is essential to the success of the project, as well as the adoption of an appropriate timeframe for the implementation of a GI (several years). Capacity building to empower actors at the local, national and regional levels is crucial.
Key partnerships have been developed with:
- Networks of researchers and teams from other projects, including the network on Localized Agri-Food Systems (SYAL), the project Strengthening International Research on Geographical Indications (SINERGI, 20072012), the project Food Quality for Sustainability and Health (Strength2Food, 2016-2020), Italian Universities (in particular the Universities of Florence and Parma) and French research organizations such as the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), the Center for International Cooperation in Agronomic Research for Development (CIRAD), the Master's degree in Food Identity from Angers, VetAgro Sup Clermont Ferrand, SupAgro Montpellier;
- United Nations agencies such as WIPO, UNIDO, UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre (ITC);
- Committed inter-governmental organizations: the EU Commission (DG-AGRI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), the AU, OAPI and ARIPO.
- French partners (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité [INAO], Agence française de développement [AFD]), Swiss partners (Federal Office for Agriculture [FOAG], Association for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas [AGRIDEA], REDD, Federal Institute for Intellectual Property [IPI]) and GI organizations (OriGIn, AREPO).
These partnerships have formed a solid network which have strengthened over the course of the project, and collaborations at the normative and field levels have been effective and operational. This technical expertise has enabled the various components of the GI approach to be developed further.
The networking method has ensured the success of publications that combine scientific reflection (coordination between networks of researchers) with a practical approach that meets the needs of practitioners.
Another important lesson is that in developing regional or national GI strategies, it is crucial to provide adequate technical support and capacity building to regional institutions and actors, while clearly leaving them in the lead, in order to facilitate regional empowerment and ownership.
Finally, with regard to technical assistance in the field, it seems that a project can only be successful if there is a strong commitment from local actors to see the project through to completion: the establishment of a network of competent local actors on GIs is a key success factor. An appropriate timeframe must be provided for the implementation of a GI, usually many years, as the development of the capacities of local actors and decision-makers, as well as their commitment, requires time-consuming processes.
Project contributing to:
Duration
2007-2020
Partners
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and French Ministry of Agriculture
Beneficiaries
Local communities and producers, small and medium enterprises, practitioners supporting rural development, public authorities and institutions in charge of intellectual property, agriculture, food and rural development
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